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James Beard Semi-Finalist List

Just thought I would post this. I think I am going to try hit a couple of these restaurants this year. I've already been to 6 or 7 of the restaurants on the list. Minneapolis usually performs pretty well.

I agree with salty. I think it is more for foodies to name drop than what James Beard would want. But then again I know very little of the man and what he would want. I only know he LOVED to eat. Don't get me wrong most of what I have seen from the chef's on the lists is phenomenal.

I think a lot of the new restaurants, new chefs and rising stars are the best part. A lot of the other categories are full of the usual suspects. They actually seem to rotate them. For instance Paul Kahan has at least three restaurants (I think) and it always seems there is one on the list for Chicago/Midwest. But I have recently eaten at the Bachelor Farmer in Minneapolis a couple of times and it is amazing. It's only been open since August 2011, so the political football has yet to be passed around much for them. They made the list in the first year and it is a well-deserved honor. Foodies or not, they make some amazing food there.

k.

Edit: Plus Bachelor Farmer has an amazing semi-offisite bar that will likely make it on the JBA list in the future. The guy studied under that Japanese cocktail guru apparently. The best cocktail I have had in the last 10 years has been at that bar.

There is a cult of ignorance in the United States...nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” -- Isaac Asimov

Philly is represented by two restaurants, neither of which are JBA caliber, at least IMHO. But last year my favorite place was a finalist and was most worthy and deserving.

And yeah, chefs are the new rock stars, whereas years ago they were known for their cooking chops only to their peers. Not necessarily fair, but it elevates the restaurant industry, which is a good thing.

Like the celebrity chef concept or hate it, the vast majority of those people got where they are by a lot of hard work and skill.